Machines; Alternators Flashcards
Another name for alternators?
Synchronous generators or alternating current generators
Where is voltage induced in an alternator?
Armature
Induced voltage generated by the alternator is (AC/DC)?
Ac
What does the exciting current create?
The magnetic field
What kind of source supplies the exciting current?
An external DC source
What kind of loads are appropriate for a rotating Armature alternator?
Lower kVA capacities
What is the most common type of alternator?
1 with rotating field windings
What is the Armature connected to in a rotating field alternator?
Directly connected to an external load
What is the rotor connected to in a rotating field alternator?
Connected to a DC Source through slip rings and brushes (to create rotating magnetic field)
What are some advantages of rotating field alternators?
1) Slip rings and brushes not required to connect the Armature output to the external load
2) field requires relatively low currents and voltages (smaller brushes and slip rings)
3) structure can be physically smaller
4) Armature windings easier to cool
What are the two distinct types of synchronous generator rotating field structures?
Cylindrical rotors and Salient pole rotors
How many magnetic poles would we expect to find in a cylindrical rotor?
2 or 4
What is the practical application of cylindrical rotors?
Alternators that require to be driven at high speeds (high speed prime movers: gas or steam turbines)
What’s speeds would we expect a cylindrical rotor to be driven at?
1800 or 3600 r/min
What kind of prime movers might drive a Salient pole rotor?
Internal combustion engines water turbines or electric motors
Where does the mechanical to electrical energy conversion happen in an alternator?
In the Armature winding
What is the relationship between number of windings in a stator and and voltage generated?
Proportional
How many degrees apart are the windings in a 3-phase alternator?
120 mechanical degrees
How many degrees apart are the voltages produced by the windings of a three-phase alternator?
120 electrical degrees
What are mechanical losses?
- bearng friction
- friction between the brushes and slip rings
- windage friction of the rotor
- and the power required to drive the built-in cooling fan
What supplies energy for mechanical losses in a alternator?
Prime mover
Which losses change width the load and which do not?
Iron losses do not change with the load
Copper losses do change with the load
What kind of losses are Eddy currents and hysteresis?
Iron losses or core losses
What do we use to reduce the effects of Eddy currents?
Laminations
What are Eddy currents?
Magnetic flux induces voltage within the iron which causes currents, causing heat loss in the core.
What do we use to reduce hysteresis losses?
Use Alloys in the core materials
What causes hysteresis losses
The magnetic retentivity of the core
What are copper losses?
Heat losses produced by current in the windings of the alternator
What do we do to reduce copper losses?
Use coolants such as hydrogen gas or water to reduce the temperature of the Armature conductors
How much do Armature losses decrease when the load to an alternator is decreased by a factor of 2?
Armature lost is decreased by a factor of 4
Do rotational losses remain fixed or change with the load
Remain fixed because of the constant rotational speed
What happens to the overall efficiency of an alternator from full load to half load condition?
Efficiency decreases from a full load to a half load condition
What does the value of voltage that is generated in the Armature of a rotating field alternator depend on?
1 the number of Armature turns per winding
2 the speed of the rotating field
3 the amount of flux produced by the rotating field ***